Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-11-25


Afghans abiding among the rocks, ana one |
ON 'cm took pot shot at the cap'cn, and |
brought him down. Luckily lot of our fell |
lows mad followed him as soon pretty near as
he'd started, and they brought in the two ON
'cm all right
but Jack could not write yeti he pro !
ceedcd, "and the cap'en was awful bad, and
we're all down about him. added Tom; "for
he's man any one would die for
Mary Denzil's voice was scarcely steady as
she read these words. She had quick mag
nation, and there rose before her men
tai picture of the lonely hill ride in
the moonlight, and the wounded man
left amidst the dead Afghans and English;
and then the hurried tramp of horse, the
arrival of the brave officer to rescue his
man, and his falling moment afterward be
meath the shot of the hidden assassin.
"Your Jacks captain is a hero Mary" she
said che deserves Victoria cross
But Mary was crying bitterly; her thoughts
| were all with poor wounded Jack; she could
not spare as yet any admiration for his off
| Ger.
Mary Denzil did her best to console her
| poor foster sister, representing to her. that
| Parker was probably now quite well, and
that if he did not get strong soon he would
| he invaded, and then that he need never
| leave her again.
"For we will buy him out" she promised.
| BVxlegrecS Mary was Comfortcd and COM
posed and then Miss Dcnzil questioned her
more about the officer, whose courage and
} humanity had charmed her. Mary had seen
, him at Woolwich when his regiment had been
| quartered there, and She had first known
Jack and she said that he was grand look
| ing and that his name was Owen. AN his
men loved him, he was so good. And
! Miss Denzil coniured up in her minds
rye stately middle aged gentleman,
| Il born ruler and great soldier; and II
must he confessed that she very often
thought of Capt Owen from that time and
was not little reioiced when Jacks friend
| Tom informed them that Jack was well and
"the cap'enn out of danger.
BY and by, when all was over and some of
the troops had returned to England-amongst
them was Jacks regimcnt-Miss Denzil was
gratifed by seeing that the queen had con-
ferred the Victoria cross on Capt. Richard
Owen for his valor and humanity in return
ing alone to rescue n fallen comrade.
Mary Denzil at once employed young
relative she had in the war office to purchase
Jack Parker's discharge, and likewise charged
her kinsman to give him some money from
her and to send him down to the home farm
at once, where she meant to see if she could
give him employment and to marry him TO
Mary. Yet as She sent the letter she thought
with regret that henceforward she should
hear no more from or of Capt. Owen.
} One morning, about n month after writ
ing to her cousin, the young lady received
letter from him, telling her that Parker was
discharged, but had begged him to tell her
that he could not yet visit the home farm, as
his captain was still i'll from his wound and
he did not like to leave him III lodgings all
alone.
/ We need scarcely say that the soldiers af-
fectionate fidelity greatly recommended him
to the young heress, and Mary was delighted
ct the praise she bestowed upon him.
The days went on. The harvest was golden
l in the land that second summer since Miss
Denzil commenced her duties amanuensis,
and she was on her way to the home farm to
ask Mary if she had heard yet from Parker.
q The farm house door was open. She
! walked in and went to the little parlor where
@ Mary was often to be found at this hour (the
afternoon at work.
s. To her surprise, as she entered it she be
held a tall, pale young man-evidently a
Z gentleman-lying ON the couch smoking a
: cigarette.
t He sprang up when he saw her, and re-
moved the cigarette from his lips.
o IL came to find Mary Price" said Mis-,
d Denzil, little embarrassed. Could he be
c Capt. Owen, she wondered; if so, he was not
It at all like her ideal
# MARY Price" he replied gravely, sis gone
: out with her young man, John Parker, anC
will not be back just yet am afraid"
It 'Oh said Miss Denzil; ''then am speak
O. ing to Capt OwenF
He bowed
Ill Il am Dick Owen" he said MAY l asi
ii if | have the honor of addressing Miss Lo
10 MAXI
/, NO." she said; "Nfiss Iomax is marie,
* and has left the place.
il "Marricd." he exclaimed, in n tone of in
< tense disappointment I'm awfully sorr,
Is for that"
e "mdecd Was she a friend of yours!"-
H. dcmurely.
W "She was and she wasn't | never saw he
to in my life, but l fell in love with her tiroug
the post and | came here fully resolved t
* marry her myself"
to Mary DenAl laughed gleefully.
in II am sorry that you should have arrive
)r too latc,' she said, "for falling in low
t. through the post is rather a novel idea
Why didn't you propose by means of til
'c telephoncf'
.' 81 wish l had by electric telegraph" h
s. said, cchoing her laugh; "but kept hopin
to get down here, and was never well enoug
till now. The fact is, Miss Lomax wrote sue
he charming letters to my soldier servant
as don't lock shocked pray, she was onl
id deputy and amanuensis for his sweetheart
q, that lost my heart to her at once, and real
Sc ! did hope
as He paused.
| THAT the lady had returned the compl
ment" she asked coloring. lie was too al
f" surd for anything, she thought.
"Wcll, you know, they were very prett
be love letters, and sometimes one was apt
forget jack lie said, comically. "ParkC
is told me that it was Miss LomaX wrote Il
letters, and that She was the rcctors daugl
Ks ter here: so, when the doctor ordered COUNT
nd air came to her villago-alas! too late"-
ed signing.
cr II feel for your disappointed hopes, sal
his laughing auditor; "but as they were
ny very dream like dare say you Will recov,
IL. l.